New waterfront shopping mall opens in Bahrain

Sorouh Al Bahrain, the project owner, has announced the opening of The Avenues, a first-of-its-kind commercial and entertainment mall in the kingdom with a unique 1.5-km waterfront location in the heart of capital Manama, opposite the Bahrain Bay. The kingdom's latest shopping destination was inaugurated by HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister last evening in the presence of Sorouh Al Bahrain chairman Mohammed Al Shaya and other senior government officials, reported BNA. Designed in a similar theme to The Avenues in Kuwait, the project’s architectural design gives visitors an outdoor feeling whilst remaining indoors, it stated. The covered roof in the mall allows for sunlight to pass through but keeps the heat out, giving a sense of outdoor shopping. It is also designed in an innovative recreational style that allows the public to have access to a charming sea front. The first phase of the project, which including the “Grand Avenue” and the “Harbour” boasts 130 retail stores, and a leasing space of around 40,000 sq m, half of which is devoted to restaurants and cafes, all of them overlooking Bahrain Bay, said the BNA in its report. The work on the Phase One was completed at an investment of of BD60 million ($158 million) within two years, it stated. The implementation of the Phase Two of the project will start within the next few months and is likely to be completed in 2020. In this phase, the west side of the project will be completed and also additional leasing space of 30,000 sq m will get added, said the report. The scope of work includes construction of the 210-room Hilton Bahrain Bay Hotel and Residences and also residences with direct access to the mall. "This will make The Avenues an attractive destination for citizens and tourists from across the GCC and beyond," remarked Al Shaya. The Avenues features international and local brands, some of which enter the Bahraini retail market for the first time. In addition, it has a number of spaces for family entertainment, including a games hall, ten cinemas, parks, walkways and car parks, said the project owner. Lauding the kingdom's investment-friendly environment, Al Shaya said: "We are delighted that Bahrain is the first country outside Kuwait to launch The Avenues." "The Avenues opening in Bahrain follows its success in Kuwait, where it has become one of the most important tourism landmarks in the region, attracting millions of visitors every year," he added.